"If I can stop one Heart from Breaking,
I shall not live in Vain;
If I can Ease one Life the Aching;
I shall not live in Vain."
I have a Solution that will reduce pressure on IIT aspirants but do not know how to get this across to HRD Minister of India. Suggestions are welcome. (Ram Krishnaswamy)

Students ending their lives, unable to cope up with pressure of competitive exams and expectations from families have once again cast a shadow on the thriving entrance coaching business in Rajastan's city of Kota.

The Hindu/ Representative Image

The latest victim to end his life was 14-year-old Bhanu Kumar, who was found hanging from a fan in his hostel room on Sunday. The latest incident have taken the number of student suicides this year in Kota to 30 also the third such case in one week.

Kumar, a resident of Saharsa district in Bihar, came to Kota when he was just 13 to improve his performance in physics and mathematics. He was enrolled in class IX at a city school and at a coaching centre for an edge course in science subjects. However records from his institute showed that he was a regular absentee and the centre had informed his parents about their son's behaviour.

Kumar who was living alone in a rented accommodation did not go home even during the winter vacation, when both his school and coaching institute were closed. He was also in Kota during the Diwali break, his hostel owner said.

Daily Mail/ Representative Image

Incidentally, the death happened a day after the district administration undertook a major exercise to de-stress coaching students to curb the spate of suicides. Coaching centres were directed to organise activities like painting and singing as part of its 'Masti ki Pathshala' campaign.

Pagalguy

Over 1.25 lakh students come to various coaching institutes in Kota every year, with the dream of cracking the competitive entrance exams like IIT JEE and the All India Engineering Entrance Examination.

However, many take the extreme step as they are not able to withstand the high pressure coaching schedule and unable to live up to the family expectations.